Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-06-16
His FIRST FRENCH BREAKFAST,
A Correspondents Struggles with the
Tongue of tho Gauls.
Especial Correspondence

"A correspondents struggles with the
Tongue of tho Gauls.
Especial Correspondence
PARIS May g.
"Dejeuner un franc Is confines" Sig,
over doorway, Rue st. Denis Second
morning in Paris. Referring to guide boob
found it meant ''breakfast for one franc
fifteen centimes." Concluded to dejeune
Went in Met a lady behind sort of pulpit
Lady talked to me. Couldn't make her ont.
Shook my head. Hung out foreign flag.
Lady pointed upstairs. Place for breakfast
Didn't want to go. Couldn't make any ex.
cuse to get out. Had to go up because had
no language to make an excuse in to get out.
Found long table and forty Frcnchmen at it.
Don't think an American ever stayed in there
before. Waiter put me on a seat
No written bill of fare. Verbal Waiter
did the verb business in French. Poured j,
into me. Couldn't make out word. Waiter
waited. Looked at him helplessly. Waiter
did it all over again. Caught at last at I,
word, marengo. "Oui," I said; "lnarengo
Bonl Bring marengo." Waiter started after
marengo. Wondered what it would be-fish.
flesh, foul-or soup. Turned out some sort of
meat plentifully spiced and plentifully
gravied. Made it last as long as l could.
Dreaded that waiter and his verbal bill of
fare. Waiter darted on my plate Bore i,
away before meant he should. Gabbled at
ME again. Heard welcome sound. "Pomme
de terre Potatoes" Called out: "Oui
mongshure. We, madame; portray vous pota
toes-I mean pom day tur. We, we.n
Found forty Frenchmen at table al,
looking at me and trying not t.,
smile. Polite nation. Very. Never laugh
IN your face. Perpetual laugh inside Sc,
points very quick. Conceited lot, though.
Ihink Paris the center OF universe. Nothing
out sand lots and savages outside. Waiter
Drought potatoes, stewed with more gravy
very good. Made 'em last as long as posi-
ble Felt very uncomfortable Knew I
wasn't ordering breakfast ship shane and
man fashion after French style. Should bav.
commenced with slice of sausage thin
as wafer and a sprig of cress
Make that last half an hour. One
Connecticut river Yankee can swallow
half French breakfast at one moutbfuI
Potato eaten up Waiter came again. More
gabbie. Fired back in East Haddam French
Asked waiter to repeat his observation. Had
MN there Got even. Couldn't understand
me. Gauls at table startled, Unknown
tongue 10 them. Caught at another word in
WATERS torrent OF unintelligibility Fromage,
cheese What kinda Twenty different kinds
OF cheese in France. Hard cheese, sof,
cheese, sage cheese, goats cheese, cheesy
cheese, green cheese and cheese that rms like
moiasses when you bust its upper crust.
oneese and spoonful OF jam. Dessert. ex
pec'ea 70 De twenty minutes finishing that,
according to Partisan meal regulations Nil
r.n III .w9 minutes, New York ten cent restau.
rant style Got up to leave. Could not find
my way out. Waiter led me down stairs
round the lady behind the pulpit at door
a takes IN the cash. Paid her. twenty-five
o eI + s ior nai bottle OF wine, as much bread
Gould have had more il I'd talked Frenchv
French. Bread in Paris at restaurant table
put on by the loaf. Not in scant eiblets as
Win u.s. who raise bread for the world. -